How popular is surfing How does it rank world wide as far as popular sports?

Answer 1

While Surfing has become increasingly more popular in the past 100 years, it's not even close on the national (let alone worldwide) scale.

First, it was developed on islands in the middle of the Pacific. It never had a chance to spread worldwide. Second, you can only surf if you're near the coast, which means that only a fraction of the world can ever participate or see it live. Finally, you can't sell it. Surfing happens on a beach which means that anyone can just walk up to a contest, sit down, and watch. If you can't charge admission, companies won't promote it throughout the world like soccer or some of the others.

But for those who love it, it couldn't be more popular. People sleep on beaches to get the best morning waves and carve their own boards to surf on out of fiberglass. I've never met a soccer fan who stitched his own ball (though I'm sure they're out there).

If you dig surfing, check this out:

http://www.surferpros.com

i know i love it! ACTUALLY...surfing no longer requires a beach and an ocean. If you are lucky enough to live near a waterpark or a major resort with a SurfStream machine (www.surfstream.com) you can surf. In July 2009 the company (American Wave Machines) announced a new SurfStream being build in Sweden. So, when it's ten below zero Swedes will be able to surf. True! Also, river surfing is a possibility. Certain times of the year some rivers, like the Snake River in Wyoming or a river in Montreal, Canada, have surfable conditions. Check it out.